Russia and Georgia negotiating resumption of regular flights between states

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Written by Linda Hohnholz

It was reported earlier that Georgia and Russia have come to an agreement on the resumption of regular flights from Tbilisi to Moscow and Moscow to Tbilisi, with further air service possibly being res

It was reported earlier that Georgia and Russia have come to an agreement on the resumption of regular flights from Tbilisi to Moscow and Moscow to Tbilisi, with further air service possibly being restored in other areas as well. Magee Kikaleyshvili, the Minister of Economy for Georgia, confirmed the possible resuming of regular flights between Moscow and Tbilisi is scheduled to begin on September 15, noting that a detailed list of airlines that will operate these flights will be announced before September 1, 2014.

Regular direct flights between Russia and Georgia were canceled in 2006 after tensions occurred between the two countries, and were then restored in 2008. However, flights were again interrupted after events in August of the same year. Now, direct flights from Russia to Georgia and back are made by several airlines, including S7 and Georgian Airways.

“We have received through the Swiss Embassy and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Georgia, Russia’s official note that Russia proposes to resume regular direct air service,” said Deputy Minister of Economy and Sustainable Development of Georgia Natia Mikeladze. According to her, before September 1 of the current year, the Georgian and Russian sides will send each other a specific list of airlines that will operate flights from Tbilisi to Moscow and from Moscow to Tbilisi, commencing on September 15.

The Russian Foreign Ministry said Wednesday that further air service would be restored in other areas. “The Russian side proposed to an exchange of notes to restore first regular flights on the route Moscow-Tbilisi on September 15, and later in other areas,” the Foreign Ministry said in a statement after talks in Prague with Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Grigory Karasin with the special representative of the Prime Minister of Georgia, Zurab Abashidze, on relations with Russia.

The Russian aviation authority previously authorized Russian airline Aeroflot to perform scheduled air transportation in Tbilisi “after receiving the response notes from the Georgian Foreign Ministry on the resumption of regular air traffic.” Later, the Ministry of Internal Affairs of Georgia said that this is not connected with the negotiating process.

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Linda Hohnholz

Editor in chief for eTurboNews based in the eTN HQ.

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